The Political Roundtable crew looks back at the top political stories of the year, including the race governor; the implementation of Obamacare in Rhode Island; the Ocean State's persistently high unemployment; and the emerging legacy of Lincoln Chafee.

Veteran Democratic fundraiser Amy Gabarra is assisting Clay Pell's exploratory committee to raise money, in the latest sign that Pell may pursue a run for governor in 2014.

Gabarra helped Democratic gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio to assemble the largest war chest in the 2010 race for governor. She's also worked for David Cicilline, Lincoln Chafee and Bill Lynch, among others.

The year ended as 2013 began: with Rhode Island's political/media class fixated on the looming race for governor in 2014. At least we're a bit closer now. With that in mind, welcome back to my weekly column. Your tips and thoughts are always welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org, and your cordially invited to follow me on the twitters. Let's get to it.

State General Treasurer Gina Raimondo -- who developed a national profile after spearheading a significant overhaul of Rhode Island's pension system in 2011 -- announced in a four-and-a-half-minute video emailed to supporters today that she is indeed running to become governor next year.

Rhode Island is the gift that keeps giving -- as the saying goes -- and 2013 was chock full of news. Who knows what the next day could bring? With a few weeks still left to go in December, on the way to a big news year, here's a rundown on the most-read posts this year on our politics blog.

Money isn’t everything in political campaigns. Yet, it is a lot of things, explains RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay who ponders the role of campaign cash in the 2014 RI Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Jesse Unruh, speaker of the California Assembly, coined the term back in 1966. ``Money,’’ said Unruh. ``is the mother’s milk of politics.’’

Just when we thought we knew that next year’s Democratic gubernatorial primary field was set, it suddenly was not. RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay talks about the Clay Pell factor.

Herbert Claiborne `Clay’ Pell IV is a scion of a storied Rhode Island political family. He’s the grandson of U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, a quirky, even eccentric politician who nonetheless never lost an election in six terms, despite facing the toughest opponents our small state could muster.

Just when we thought we knew that next year’s Democratic gubernatorial primary field was set, it suddenly was not. RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay talks about the Clay Pell factor.

Herbert Claiborne `Clay’ Pell IV is a scion of a storied Rhode Island political family. He’s the grandson of U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, a quirky, even eccentric politician who nonetheless never lost an election in six terms, despite facing the toughest opponents our small state could muster.

Rhode Island Monthly political columnist Ellen Liberman joins us this week to talk about the 2014 race for governor; Clay Pell's organization of a campaign; Jorge Elorza's formal launch of his mayoral campaign; and the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy.

In a definitive sign that he's jumping into the race for governor, Clay Pell has filed a notice of organization with the state Board of Elections that he's moving ahead with a campaign.

In a statement, Pell says, “Earlier today, I filed a Notice of Organization for an Exploratory Committee with the Board of Elections. The filing is a practical step in my process to decide whether I will seek the Democratic nomination for governor."

Welcome back to my Friday column on this lovely Friday in mid-November. As always, your feedback and thoughts are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org, and you're invited to follow me on the twitters. Let's get to it.

State Treasurer Gina Raimondo is adding Eric Hyers, who managed David Cicilline's two successful congressional campaigns, to her stable of political talent as she gears up for a Democratic run for governor next year.

In a telephone interview, Hyers would say only that his role is to "get her and her team ready as we approach the end of the year." He declined comment on other questions, including whether he'll remain part of Raimondo's team through 2014.